Clothes-washing machine



R. ELCOCK.

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE.

APPucATlvoN r|LEDAuG.2s.191s.

1,356,433'. Patented om. 19, 1929.

UhllTED STATES nonnnr Encocn, or Joriannnssune, Elzenstraat, soU'rI-r AFRICA.

GLGTHESl-W'ASHNG MACHINE.

Lesen-ss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed August 28, 19155. Serial No. 251,785.

To @Z310/vrom t may concern.' b

Be it known that l, Ron-Enr Encocn, a British subject, residing at lllovo Buildings, Pretoria Bridge, Johannesburg, yTransvaal Province of the Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to machines for washing clothes and the like of the kind in which the articles te be washed are mechanically agitated with detergent liquid.

A purpose of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the liquid and clothes are agitated back and forth without substantial lifting, thereby making the Inachine light to work. Another purpose is to cause the liquid to flow relatively to, and through, the fabrics by'mechanical means. A. further purpose is to subject the clothes to combined squeezing and rubbing to express the dirt and 'to a vibratory movementk of the liquid which tends to keep the fabrics spread and thus freely permeable `by the liquid.

lThe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is an elevation showing part of the front wall of the tub removed. Y

- Fig. Il is a vertical section on XX Fig. lll with the parts differently positioned from Fig. I.

Fig. lll is a partial plan. The lid ofthe tub is omitted in Figs. ll and III.

The apparatus comprises a tub 1 which is rectangular in plan and the ends 2 of which preferably slope together downwardly.

ln the supporting frame 3 provision is made for mounting a detachable stove l by means of which the contents of the tub may be heated if desired.

5 is an operating handle carried on a bail 6 fast a shaft 7 pivoted to the tub so that the handle be oscillated up and down. On the shaft l" is fined an arm 8 to which is connected a tension spring 9 attached at its lower end to a hook 10 on the tub; said spring returning or assisting to returnthe bail 6 after it has been pressed down. The spring 9 may be hooked into any one of a number of holes 11 on the arm 8 to adjust its effective force. It will be evident that the bail 6 may if desired be reciprocated by power..

it each side arm of the hail 6 is pivoted "clothes which are retained therein.

an upright rod 12 which is loosely guided for vertical movement by a guide 13 on the side of' the tub. To, the upper end of each. such rod 12 are pivoted the two links 14, 111 of a toggle. Said links are pivoted at their other ends to the oscillating dash kplates 15, 15, which plates are duplicates of oneanother. They are pivoted at their lowerends by pintles 16 which simply drop into slots 1? in thebearing blocks 18 fixed to the licor ofthe tub toward each side.

nt the ends of the tub are the rising dash plates 19, 19a. The rising dash plate 19 at the left hand side is mounted upon arms 2O extending from the reciprocating dash plate 15L at the right. vSimilarly the rising dash plate 191011 the right is mountedy on arms 2OTL extending from the reciprocating dash plate 15 on the left. The upper ends of the rising dash plates are i'itted withslippers 21 which run on balls 22 secured insidethe end walls of the tub.L

The spaces 23 between each oscillating dash plate and the adj acentrising dash plate constitute the washing chambers. The lower end of each such chamber is closed in sufliciently to retain the fabrics by a partition 2d which extends from the plate 19 (or 19a) and works over a curved partition 25 extending fromthe adjacent plate 15 (or 15W) The shape of the partition 25 is such that the aperturebetween it and the lower edge of the partition 24 is not varied by the relative movement of the plates 15 and 19. It is preferred to leave anaperture between the i partitiens 2d and 25 to cause a jet of liquid as hereafter mentioned.

26 is a deflection plate which assists circulation of the liquid due to heating fromL the stove l by guiding the uprising and heated currents of liquid to the chambers 23. In use the tub is charged with washing liquid and the clothes are placed in the chambers Upon the handle 5 being recipro cated, at each downward movement of the handle theplates 15, 15 are moved outwardly toward the opposite ends of the tub as indicated in Fig. Il and upon the handle n being raised they return to their original positions. lThe capacity of each chamber 23 is thus alternately diminished and increased, so causing` the liquid to flow into and from said chambers to agitate and penetrate the If a suitable aperture is left between the plates 24 and 25, a considerable jet of liquid ilows up through the same and impinges on the clothes, when the plates 15`are retracted. lvlor'eover at each outward stroke of the plate 15 the clothes are squeezed between such plate and the plate 19. At the same time plate 19 rises and afterwarddescends and so causes a rubbing action on the clothes between the plates. It will be noted that at the end of the outward stroke of the plate 15 when the clothes are squeezed, the toggle 14- is in the position of its greater leverage so that considerable pressure can be exerted without the exercise of undue i'orce at the handle.

The separating movement of the plates l5 and 19 sets up a sort of expansive tendency in the liquid contained in the clothes which operates to open out the latter and not only prevents them from remaining hunched up but also causes them to be differently disposed when squeezed at the next stroke, so insuring cleansing of all portions. T he rubbing action of the plates 19 also assists the operation. It will be noted that the toggle gives a quick final return movement of the plates which assists this spreading action.

The space 27 between the plates 15 and l5a can be used for soaking and agitating clothes before they are put into the washing chambers 23.

Upon detaching the four toggle links 14 from the plates 15, said plates 15 togetherv with the plates 19 may be lifted ont of the tub, so permitting all parts to be eiliciently cleansed. A cock 2S is provided for drawing off the used liquid.

I claim 1. In a washing machine, the combination dash plates and connected with and operating the same.

2. In a washing machine, the combination with atub, of a pair of oscillating dash plates arranged for opposite movement, arms eX- tending from each of said plates and dash plates arranged for rising and falling movementmounted on said arms.

3. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a pair of oscillating dash plates, a reciprocating actuating member, and toggle links connecting said reciprocating member to the plates wherebythe latter are alternately separated and retracted as the reciprocating member is reciprocated.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with a rectangular tub, of an oscillating plate extending across said tub, a vertical rising and falling plate extending across said tub, the space between said plates and the wall of the tub forming a washing chamber, and coperating partitions extending `severally `from each of said plates and serving substantially to close the bottom ot said chamber.

5. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub of relatively oscillated dash plates therein forming with the walls of the tub a washing chamber, coperating partitions on said plates serving as a bottom for the chamber, said partitions providing between them an aperture through which liquid passes jetwise upon relative movement of the plates.

6. In a washing machine the combination with a tub, of dash plates having sliding engagement with the sides of the tub, a pair ot oscillating dash plates at about the center of the tub, and a connection between the iirst named plates and the oscillating plates 'for operating the former from the latter,

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ROBERT ELotocK. 

